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Document Resume DOCUMENT RESUME ED 261 959 SO 016 847 AUTHOR Endo, Russell TITLE The Current Status of Japanese Americans. PUB DATE Jun 85 NOTE 20p.; Paper presented at the Southwest Forum on Minority Group Research (Denver, CO, June 1985). PUB TYPE Viewpoints (120) -- Speeches/Conference Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Acculturation; Economic Factors; Economic Status; *Japanese American Culture; *Japanese Americans; Social History; Social Problems; Social Science Research; *Social Status; Stereotypes ABSTRACT A study of the current status of Japanese Americans is divided into three sections. Following a brief introduction, a background section provides an overview of Japanese American history, population size and socioeconomic measures, and selected social characteristics. A second section looks in greater depth at socioeconomic status as reported in findings of the United States Commission on Civil Rights and the United States Bureau of the Census. Among the findings are the greater tendency of Japanese Americans than White Americans to have two-income families, lower median incomes, high median education and overrepresentation in fields such as science and engineering. Also considered are characteristic social problems and the question of. assimilation. Common conceptions of Japanese Americans as having few social problems and assimilating easily are refuted. In the conclusion, the author states that the positive image of Japanese Americans has certain negative consequences in that it validates the American idea of equal opportunity and obscures important social problems facing Japanese Americans. (LP) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** MS.P4ASTMENTOPSOUCATICW NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI yfiThis document has been reproducedas received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been madeto improve reproduction quality. Points of view ar opinions stated in thisdocu- Cr% ment do not necessarily represent official ME position or policy- "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS t".-11 MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY goLp;ei E7)10LAD O1 TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." The Current Status of Japanese Americans by Russell Endo University of Colorado. and Colorado Institute of Social Research ..[\\ ;1N This paper was prepared for presentation at the Southwest Forum on Minority 8roup Research, Denver, June 1985. Direct all correspondence tol Russell Endo, Colorado Institute of Social Research, Bow 12079, Boulder, CO 80303 2 SSW COPY MALAWI The Current Status of Japanese Americans INTRODUCTION Japanese Americans are among the least understood minority groups in the United States. From the late 1800's through World War II, they were frequently stereotyped as evil, devious, greedy, dishonest, subversive, immoral, inscrutable, and unassimilable. Then, as now, some people also had difficulty distinguishing between Japanese Americans and Japanese in Japan. During the war, this mistaken identity resulted in Japanese Americans being interned in concentration camps; currently, this confusion makes Japanese Americans a target of hostility arising out of economic competition between the United States and Japan. Some people today assume that Japanese Americans are identical to Chinese, Koreans, and other Asian groups in the United States and that all of these groups live in tourist-oriented communities with temples, restaurants, and shops filled with curios, strange works of art, and exotic foods. More knowledgeable individuals are likely to have a different contemporary image of Japanese Americans, an image of a group which has attained high levels of education, occupation, and income, has few social problems, and is rapidly assimilating. Japanese Americans are apt to be admired because they seem to have achieved all of this on their own through their intelligence, patience, hard work, thrift, and resourcefulness and their emphasis on strong families, community support, and education. This favorable image has received much attention in American NW COW AIPAPALE 2 magazines and newspapers which now characterize Japanese Americans as a "successful model minority." However, this depiction is superficial and vastly oversimplied. And, while this image is positive, it has certain negative consequences which are not readily apparent. A complete picture of the present situation of %);apanese Americans requires a closer examination of their current socioeconomic status, social problems, and assimilation. These areas will be investigated after a background overview of Japanese American history, population size and summary socioeconomic measures, and selected social characteristics. BACKGROUND History The bulk 04 Japanese immigration to America took place from 1890 until a ban was imposed by the United States in 1924. Although most migrants initially intended to return to Japan after a few years, large numbers later sent for wives and eventually decided to settle in America. Migrants usually came from rural backgrounds and were attracted to America by economic opportunities. They generally went to Hawaii or the Pacific Coast, especially California. At first, migrants worked as laborers. Subsequently, a high proportion moved on into farm proprietorship, fishing, gardening, or small urban businesses such as hotels, markets, cafes, dry goods shops, and restaurants. Ethnic communities were created by the immigrant generation, the Issei, which included economic, 11111111,COPY 4 3 social, political, and religious organizations and intricate networks of family, friendship, and business ties. The second generation, or Nisei, were born from 1910 through the 1930's. Both the Issei and Nisei were the victims of intense discrimination and organized anti-Japanese movements supported by politicians, newspapers, and labor organizations. Japanese Americans fought back with strikes, boycotts, demonstrations, and lawsuits. Anti-Japanese agitation peaked at the beginning of World War II when 110,000 Japanese Americans, too-thirds of whom were American-born Nisei, were removed from their homes and sent to concentration camps. After the war, the Nisei used their considerable energies and education to move into good occupations, including professional and technical positions. During the postwar period, the third generation, or Sansei, were born. For more information on Japanese American history and communities, see Kitano (1,976) and Wilson and Hosokawa (1980). Size and Symmmry Socincondmic Menges Japanese Americans are one of several Asian groups in the United States, each of which has distinct cultural characteristics, communities, and historical experiences. Besides the Japanese, the major Asian American groups are the Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Vietnamese, and Asian Indians; other Pacific and Southeast Asian peoples make up the remainder. Asian American groups are concentrated in Hawaii and along the Pacific Comet, but large numbers are also in the East and Midwest. The 1980 Census counted 812,178 Chinese, 781,894 Filipinos, 716,331 4 Japanese, 357,393 Koreans, 245,025 Vietnamese, and 387,223 Asian Indians (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1983a). According to the 1980 Census, Americans of Japanese descent are scattered throughout the United States although they are primarily located in Hawaii (239,734), California (268,814), Washington (i.7,389), Illinois (18,432), New York (24,754), and several other Western States (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1983b). Japanese Americans predominately live in metropolitan areas, and large communities can be found in Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and New York City. Between 1970 and 1980, the Japanese American population grew by 21%, much less than other Asian American groups such as the Chinese (142%), Filipinos (128%), and Koreans (417%) (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1983a). This growth in the other groups was due largely to th& influx of new immigrants. In contrast, relatively few individuals migrated from Japan to the United States. According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1980), immigration from Japan between 1970 and 1980 averaged only about 5,000 persons per year. Certain summary measures from the 1980 Census (as well as earlier censuses) suggest that Japanese Americans have attained impressive levels of education, occupation, and income. These summary measures are commonly cited by those who view Japanese Americans as a successful model minority. In 1980, Japanese Americans age 25 and over had a median educational level of 12.9 years compared with 12.5 years for the entire U.S. population. Furthermore, 28% of the employed Japanese Americans age 16 and 5 over had professional or managerial occupations and 347. had technical or sales positions compared with 237.. and 307. respectively for the U.S. population as a whole. Also, the median family income for Japanese Americans was $27,354 compared with $19,917 for the entire U.S. population (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1983a). While these summary measures reflect important achievements, they do not represent a complete picture of the socioeconomic status of Japanese Americans, as will be discussed below. Selected Social Charactgrigtigs The 1980 Census provides much useful information on Japanese American families. About the same percentage (84%) of Japanese
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